AP Lange

September 22nd and 23rd

Responding to
Thoreau
Walden: Where I Lived and
What I Lived For
Introduction: SOAPS
Speaker
Occasion
Audience
Purpose
Subject
Introduction: SOAPS
1. Speaker, Occasion, and Subject

Sentence Frame: (Writers credentials), (writers
first and last name), in his/her (type of text), (title
of text), (strong verb Ms. Lange will give you a
list) (writers subject).

Example: Well-known essayist and writer, Joan
Didion, in her essay, The Santa Ana, describes the
dramatic mood altering effects of the Santa Ana
winds on human behavior.


Introduction: SOAPS
2. Purpose
Sentence Frame: (Writers last name)s
purpose is to (what the writer does in the text).
Example: Didions purpose is to impress
upon readers the idea that the winds
themselves change the way people act and
react.


Introduction: SOAPS
Audience He/she adopts a[n]
(adjective describing the
attitude/feeling conveyed by the writer)
tone in order to (verb phrase describing
what the writer wants readers to
do/think ) in his/her (intended
audience)
Example: She creates a dramatic tone in order
to convey to her readers the idea that the
winds are sinister and their effects
inescapable.


Body: Structure
When writing an analysis, it
is crucial that you work
chronologically through
the text.
This means that you start
at the beginning of the
text and work your way
through it by discussing
what the writer is saying
and the effectiveness of
the strategies he/she is
using at the beginning,
middle, and end of the
text.


Body: Structure
Sometimes this means that you
will discuss each paragraph
(one at a time), and
sometimes this means that you
will divide the text into sections
and discuss the beginning,
middle, and end of the text.
Whether you discuss each
paragraph or each section
depends on the length and
organization of the text itself.

Body: Transitions
Begins
opens
closes
contrasts
Shifts to
juxtaposes
ends
moves to

Body: Analysis
Identify the strongest rhetorical
strategies used in that particular
section. Do NOT try to discuss
every strategy the writer uses;
pick the strongest!
Clearly and specifically explain
how the rhetorical strategies are
used to help the writer achieve
his/her purpose and reach his
audience.
The above items must be woven
together seamlessly into one
sophisticated paragraph of the
body of your analysis essay.

Body: Quotations
Using a signal phrase:
As PC World columnist Daniel Tynan points
out, Employees could accidentally (or
deliberately) spill confidential corporate
information (52).
Using blended quotation:
Brandon Conran argues that the story is
written from a bifocal point of view (111).


Sentence Frames:
Locate your readers by telling them where you are
starting your analysis and what the subject of the
section is:
(Writers last name) (transition word) his/her (type of text)
by (strong verb) that (main idea of this section of the text).
What is the rhetorical strategy being used by the writer
and what textual evidence supports it:
His/her use of (rhetorical strategy) (prepositional
phrase)(textual evidence blended quotation).
Explain how the rhetorical strategies helped the writer
achieve his/her purpose:
Use an in order to statement.
The fourth sentence identifies the effect of the writers
use of these rhetorical strategies on the audience.
Describe the tone being conveyed and the action/belief
the author desires from the audience.




Reagan begins his tribute to the Challenger astronauts
by acknowledging that the shuttle accident has
appropriately postponed his planned State of the
Union address and by expressing the depth of his and
his wifes personal grief. He appeals to the mournful
emotions of the audience by admitting that he and
Nancy are pained to the core (3), that today is
rightfully a day for mourning and remembering (2-3),
and that the accident is truly a national loss (4). He
joins in this time of mourning in order to unify the nation
and humbly admit that we share this pain with all of
the people of our country (4). This outpouring of
emotion from the president conveys a calming tone
that reassures the Nation that their grief is both
understandable and proper.
Example:
Conclusion
The conclusion is probably the easiest
part. Be brief. In one to two sentences,
simply remind your reader of the things
you said in the introduction.
Works Cited
http://www.franklin.kyschools.us/Downloads/How%20t
o%20write%20a%20rhetorical%20analysis%20essay.pdf
Hacker, Diana. The Bedford Handbook. Boston:
Bedford/St. Martin's, 2002. Print.
AP Lange
September 22nd and 23rd